Robert benjamin williams



' (N o Model.)

` 11. B'. WILLIAMS. 'WASHBOARR Ixlxlxialx Patented Sept. 2-9, '1896;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT BENJAMIN IVILLIAMS, OF INVERCARGILL, NEIV ZEALAND.

WASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,392, dated September 29, 1896.

Application tiled May 20, 1895. Serial No. 549,878. (No model.) Patented in New Zealand December 19, 1894,1I0. 7,347.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT BENJAMIN IVILLIAMS, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Invercargilhin the Colony of New Zealand, have invented an Improved IVashing-Board, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent of New Zealand, No. 7,347, dated December I9, 1894,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to washing-boards, such as are used for washing clothes; and the objects of my invention are to produce a simple, practical, durable, and efcient apparatus, upon which or by means of which clothes may be rapidly and thoroughly washed.

To the above ends the invention consists of the novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In carrying out the objects of my invention I make the washing-board of a shape approximating that of boards at present in use for the same purpose; but I employ a mat made of metal links for the rubbing-surface, which I iind is far more efficient than corrugated surfaces. I also provide an adjustable apparatus for so securely holding` the soap that it is always in the best position for use.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a construction for carrying out the invention, and by its aid I will now proceed to describe the washing-board in detail, so that it may be most easily understood.

Figure lis a plan of the washing-board. Fig. 2 is a section of the same `on line A B, Fig. l.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in both figures.

On the drawings the letter a designates the washing-board proper, which is preferably framed within the frame b and provided with extensions Z2 of such frame for readily handling the apparatus. The board a is recessed at c for a depth equal to about half the thickness of the chain mat to be used.

d is the mat, made of metal links e, which may be of any suitable metal and interwoven, as shown on the drawings, or in any other manner which shall provide a similar regular and interstitial surface, which will not catch or tear clothes rubbed thereon. The links e are preferably made of steel, which are prevented from rusting by washing the board after use in clean hot water. The heat taken up by the steel links evaporates the water left upon them after such washing, leaving the metal clean and bright.

The size of the links e may vary within reasonable limits, and I iind that links having an external diameter of about one-quarter of an inch give excellent results in practice.

rIhe mat d is attached to the board by threading the links e at the extremities upon stiff wires f, which are fixed to the board a by inserting their ends in the said board, as shown.

The board a is provided with a recess g, having overhanging sides forming grooves It, within which the soap g may be held securely in position ready for use. In the upper part of recess h there is pivoted at h2 a bar or lever h', and the head of the board is provided with a thumb-screwj, by which the part h maybe made to grip the soap g. j is the nut for the said screw, and L7'2 a friction-plate upon the part h', within which the point of the screw j enters and holds part 71. down to its work.

In using the washing-board the clothes are rubbed upon the soap and then upon the link mat, using water at the same time in the usual manner.

Having thus described 1ny invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination with a washing-board provided with a suitable rubbing-surface and with a soap-holding recess, 0f a bar pivoted in said recess and means for causing said bar to grip the soap, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a washing-board provided with a suitable rubbing-surface and with a soap-recess having overhanging sides, of a bar or lever h pivoted in said recess and a thumb-screw passing through the head of the board and adapted to depress the free end of said pivoted bar to-cause the latter to grip the soap, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to'this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this V9th day of April, 1895.

ROBERT BENJAMIN WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

LAvINeroN GEORGE Roorn, ALEXANDER CROSS.

IOO 

